batavia

City fire is assisting the occupants of a house on Law Street that is being evacuated because of high flood waters.

They're assessing whether to pull the electrical meter on the house.

The house is surrounded by two feet of water.

While on scene, the commander reports that a vehicle is now on Law Street and seems to be floating in the water.

Meanwhile, on Watson, the sewer supervisor is requested to the scene because there is apparently a sewer back-up.

UPDATE 12:18 a.m.: The residents who requested to be evacuated were. All of the other households on Law were checked by firefighters. Residents either didn't have basements and all of their utility connections were above water, or they had already shut off their utilities. A firefighter confirmed the car in the top photo did float a bit. The driver was cited and a family member picked her up.

Here are more flood pictures from this afternoon. The first three I took and the rest are from readers.

Above, the Tonawanda Creek at the bend off South Main Street. 

This is the back of Nate Fix's property, which 18 months ago the DEC carved up a bit to build new flood control.

Peaviner Road. The roadway is to the right side of the picture.

Photo submitted by Steve Ognibene. The vehicle stalled on Jackson Avenue. According to Steve, the driver was cited and the car was towed.

Ron Burroughs kayaking on Ganson Avenue. Submitted by Diane Burroughs.

Maria Casper submitted these two pictures of Philip, Kayla and Andrew kayaking in Kibbe Park.

Flooding in Pavilion submitted by Brittany Hart.

A woman is trapped inside her stalled vehicle near the flooded intersection of Law and Walnut streets. City fire is responding along with a public works crew.

UPDATE 8:08 p.m.: City fire reports the woman is out of her vehicle and inside the fire truck. The vehicle will be left there until the floodwaters recede and it can be towed away.

A two-vehicle accident with possible serious injuries is reported on the eastbound Thruway near mile marker 388.2, by the college. There is "serious entrapment" and at least two people are injured. Town of Batavia, with all available manpower, and two Mercy medic rigs are responding.

UPDATE 6:38 p.m.: Mercy Flight is put "in air." Eastbound traffic is heavy and the lanes are blocked and backing up. A third ambulance is requested. Le Roy rescue is also called in.

UPDATE 6:42 p.m.: Oakfield fire is requested to stand by in Town of Batavia fire station number 1.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: The entrapment is characterized as "extreme" by a responder, involving the dashboard. Traffic is heavily backed up. "We'll be trying to land this bird on the Thruway when it's time."

UPDATE 6:47 p.m.: In conjuction with the state Thruway Authority, the eastbound Thruway is shut down and traffic will be required to exit in Batavia. Mercy Flight is circling over the scene, preparing to land.

UPDATE 6:55 p.m.: The Mercy Flight crew is told that their patient is a male, about 30 years old, in need of "significant extrication" efforts. He is said to have moderate injuries, and an altered mental status. His complaints include chest pain and difficulty breathing. A heavy wrecker will be needed to tow a semi truck. The second vehicle involved is possibly a pickup truck.

UPDATE 7:08 p.m.: Patient(s) extricated.

UPDATE 7:18 p.m.: The patient requiring Mercy Flight transport is loaded on the helicopter, which will soon be airborne.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital.

UPDATE 7:24 p.m.: Le Roy is back in service. The three Mercy units are clearing the Thruway scene. The eastbound Thruway will be opened to a single lane. Town of Batavia is picking up and preparing to go back in service. State Police are on scene. Two flatbed tow trucks are en route.

UPDATE 8:15 p.m.: The Town of Batavia assignment is back in service, along with Oakfield which provided standby assistance, and the eastbound Thruway is reopened.

This photo, submitted by a reader.

Batavia PD officers were kept busy this afternoon just trying to keep drivers from boating through an obviously flooded Oak Street.

Even once the street was closed by authorities, drivers still wanted to head either north or south.

Shawn Hargrave, who lives across from Hackett TV on Walnut, watched the cars go by and the police try to deal with it.

For awhile, there was an officer parked in front of her house, blocking traffic before the signs went up.

"There were a lot of people pulling up, walking to his window and complaining that they couldn't drive through," she said.

Once the signs went up, that still wasn't a deterrent to drivers who took "street closed" as merely a suggestion.

"We watched a newer Jeep come down and the driver stopped and he got out and moved the barriers," Hargrave said. "Unfortunately, he left the barricade open and some cars almost got stuck in the floodwaters."

Once the signs were up on the south side of the flooded section of street, a police officer still needed to be stationed on the north side to keep drivers from trying to go around the barricades.

Hargrave watched northbound driver after driver roll up to the barricades in front of her house and seemingly contemplate whether to go through before deciding to turn around.

Perhaps the most frustrated drivers to come up to the barricade were truck drivers.

The drivers were likely trying to make their way toward Pavilion, but hit the road closed sign on Route 20 at the bridge over the Tonawanda just west of Brookville Road, Alexander.

They got off Route 20 and headed north.

When they hit the road closed sign on Route 98, they had to back up all the way to First Student's parking lot in order to turn around.

Hargrave said she called NYS DOT to suggest truckers be redirected, but the DOT never responded with its own sign.

Tim Yaeger, emergency coordinator for Genesee County, and Jim Bouton, also a coordinator with the Office of Emergency Management, set up a message board sign at Route 98 and Route 20 trying to warn truckers that the road was close ahead.

But even after the sign was up, truckers still headed north. Yaeger said he was going to try to get a "local traffic only" sign posted either at Pike Road or Rose Road to encourage truckers to turn left onto those roads. The detour would lead them to Route 5 so they could resume their eastward travels.

Emergency Management acquired the $1,500 sign 18 months ago with Homeland Security grant money to use for volunteer recruitment but this was the second time it's been pressed into service an emergency.

Flooding on the Tonawanda is expected to peak at 12 feet at 7 tonight.

Yaeger and Bouton setting up road closed sign.

Below are photos submitted by Walnut Street resident Krystle Robinson of activity on Walnut Street this afternoon. Cars going through the water may have been going through at times when barriers were not in place.

Tonawanda Creek, behind the courthouse.

The location of the manmade falls/dam on the Tonawanda behind the courthouse.

The Upton Monument and the Old Courthouse, Ellicott and Main.

Law Street, Batavia.

Kibbe Park, Batavia.

Kibbe Park, Batavia.

National Grid crews on Trumbull Parkway.

Centennial Park, Batavia.

Centennial Park, Batavia.

Centennial Park, Batavia.

Outside City Church, East Main Street, Batavia.

More than 2,100 National Grid customers are without power and have been since about 2 a.m.

Freezing rain apparently caused some transformer issues.

The outage area is triangle-shaped with the western tip near Clinton Street Road just north of East Main Street and spreading east nearly to Le Roy with the northern boundary just north of the Thruway and southern edge running along Route 63 to East Bethany.

National Grid expects power to be restored by 5:30 a.m.

UPDATE 5:17 a.m.: Earlier this morning, the power outage affected 4,538 customers. And, emergency dispatchers are aware there are people in the county without power. No, they can't help you get your power restored. It's best to restrict calls to dispatchers in situations like this to actual emergencies or others calls for service.

UPDATE 5:50 a.m.: There are multiple reports throughout the county of wires down, wires arcing and flooded basements. Town of Batavia's chief has requested all available manpower to the two fire halls to be ready for new incoming calls.

UPDATE 10:35 a.m.: There are at least a dozen power outage areas in Genesee County. The two largest at the moment are in the Elba area, with 317 customers without power. Power has been out since 4:49 a.m. and a repair crew is not yet assigned to the outage. In Bergen, 1,060 customers are without power. The outage started at 7:04 a.m. and there's no ETA for repairs. Fire departments from throughout the county are still handling calls for power lines down, trees down and cellar pump details.

UPDATE 12:19 p.m.: The largest power outage reported in the county now is in the Byron area, 838 customers. Power reported out at 5:01 a.m. A repair crew is assigned. No ETA for repairs.

One person was killed early this morning when a passenger vehicle and semi-truck hit head on on Route 63, just south of Shepard Road, Town of Batavia.

The location is just yards south of the former Rosie's Diner.

Town of Batavia fire is on scene. The accident is being investigated by the Sheriff's Office Crash Management Team. A coroner is in route.

Route 63 is closed in both directions.

UPDATE: John P. Dow, of Pavilion, was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner Donald Coleman. Dow was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Envoy southbound on Route 63. Truck driver Iqbal S. Dhadda, 35, of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, said Dow's vehicle crossed completely into the northbound lane. The SUV and truck hit head-on. According to a Sheriff's Office press release, impairment may have been a factor in the crash. The accident was reported at 1:42 a.m. Dhadda was not seriously injured.

The accident investigation is being conducted by Deputy Joseph Corona, Deputy Frank Bordonaro, Deputy Jason Saile, Deputy John Duyssen and investigator Roger Stone. Assisting at the scene were Batavia PD, State Police, Town of Batavia fire and Bethany fire.

A house fire with light smoke showing is reported at 32 S. Main St. in Oakfield. Mercy medics are on scene and Oakfield Fire Department is responding along with mutual aid from the Town of Batavia and the city's Fast Team. Alabama is asked to fill in at the Oakfield hall.

UPDATE 1:30 p.m.: Alabama is asked to reroute and go to the scene.

UPDATE 1:38 p.m.: National Grid is called to the scene. No ETA.

UPDATE 1:41 p.m.: A thermal imaging camera is requested.

UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: Elba Fire Police are called to shut down traffic at Orchard and Main, and at Main and South Pearl. The fire is knocked down. They are checking for extensions.

The Batavia resident suspected of being involved in a shots-fired incident Sept. 27 on State Street has been released from jail, free on his own recognizance.

Dashawn Butler was released following an appearance in City Court because the District Attorney's Office was unable to complete a preliminary hearing within the required six days of Butler's arrest.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said the people were not ready to proceed with a hearing because a key witness would not be available in time.

Butler still faces charges of reckless endangerment, 1st, a Class D felony, and criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C felony, and second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor.

State law required Butler's release because he wasn't going to receive a hearing within six days. 

Friedman said his office will continue to press those charges against Butler.

A pedestrian has reportedly been struck by a vehicle at low speed in the parking lot of Enterprise Rent-a-Car on West Main Street, Batavia.

City fire and Mercy EMS are responding.

The patient is complaining of a hip injury. Mercy's ambulance is responding non-emergency.

UPDATE: The victim was taken to UMMC.

The Batavia Area Jaycees, breaking with tradition, are not awarding houses this year for Christmas light displays.

Here's their press release:

The Batavia Area Jaycees hit the City of Batavia streets on December 19^th to look at all the holiday lights set up for the season.

They believe the following streets are worth a drive: Meadowcrest Drive; Grandview Terrace; Eugene Street and Naramore Drive.

These seven streets have houses worth viewing: Bogue Avenue, Redfield Parkway, Edgewood Drive, Roosevelt Avenue, Otis Avenue, East Avenue and Elm Street.

While out and about be sure to drive down Woodrow Avenue, Woodland Avenue, Valle Drive, Chestnut Street, Jackson Street, Williams Avenue, Buell Street, Cedar Street, Clinton Street and Vine.

The Jaycees want to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season.

The Holland Land Office Museum welcomed three new board members at its annual meeting dinner meeting tonight and honored longtime museum supporter Helen Batchellor.

Batchellor, on the right, became involved with HLOM 50 years ago and stepped down from her board seat this year after 30 years on the board.

New board members are, Robert Ettinger, left, Aaron Blake and Donna Mruczek.

The dinner was held at GO ART!

Robert J. Barnes, 24, of 5 Raymond Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Barnes is accused of punching a refrigerator during an argument reported at 1:09 p.m. on Wednesday. Barnes was jailed on $10,000 bail or $20,000 bond.

Eric D. Mancuso, 19, of 20 Woodrow Road, Batavia, is charged with scheme to defraud, 1st, and falsifying business records, 1st. Mancuso was arrested in early December following an investigation into an alleged larceny at Main St. Pizza Company on East Main Street, Batavia. No further details released.

Beverly E. Gorecki, 76, of Warren Street, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Gorecki is accused of stealing $13.36 in bulk candy from Tops on Saturday.

Justin V. Easterbrook, 31, of 13284 Gray Road, Barre, is charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault, 2nd. Easterbrook was arrested following an alleged disturbance reported at 12:58 a.m. Saturday at Billy Goat's.

Christina S. Baudanza, 37, of 4036 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with disobeying a court mandate. Baudanza was arrested while at Sport of Kings on a warrant issued in City Court.

Christopher R. Waite, 24, of 3540 W. Main Street Road, Batavia, is charged with front yard parking. The alleged incident was reported at 11:48 p.m. Dec. 9 at 10 W. Main St., Batavia. No further details released.

Steven A. Gilliatt, 18, of 17 Thorpe St., Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Gilliatt is accused of damaging the property of a person residing on Ellicott Street. The alleged incident was reported at 8 p.m.

Jared E. Avery, 27, of 24 Central Ave., lower, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Avery allegedly stole food from Tops at 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 5.

Rebecca A. Edwards, 20, of 45 Central Ave., Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and motor vehicle lights that don't meet standards. Edwards was stopped at 12:11 a.m. Dec. 6 on West Main Street by Officer Jason Ivison.

Dorsie McGill Jr., of 48 Buell St., upper, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation. McGill is accused of putting another person in a choke hold during an alleged incident reported at 12:06 a.m. Nov. 28 on Bank Street.

Gerald E. Nicholson, 47, of 107 Harvester Ave., Batavia, is charged with disobeying court mandate. No further details released.

Richard James Burdick, 35, of Coward Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Burdick was charged after he allegedly returned an $18 Christmas tree to Walmart he had not purchased from the store.

Kristen Antwan Miller, 32, of Linda Drive, Hinsdale, N.H., was arrested on bench warrants out of Town of Batavia Court for grand larceny, 4th ,and falsifying business records, 1st. Miller allegedly failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance Sept. 29. He was arrested in New Hampshire on Nov. 20. He was charged as a fugitive from justice and released from custody on a promise to appear in Batavia on Nov. 22. Miller allegedly did not appear on that date. He did appear Dec. 10 and was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Andrew Lucas Kosiorek, 41, of Bank Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant related to a charge of failure to pay fine/restitution. Kosiorek was in jail on an unrelated matter and was arrested on the warrant. He was also arrested on a warrant for alleged failure to pay fine on a DWI charge. Kosiorek remains in custody.

Heather Louise Cooper, 37, no stated address, was arrested on a warrant for petit larceny. The warrant was issued in Orleans County and she was turned over to the Orleans County Sheriff's Office.

T.F. Brown's and the Lions Club of Batavia will host their annual community Christmas dinner Dec. 25.

The dinner is free to all.

There are two seatings available, noon and 1 p.m. 

An RSVP is requested by Dec. 20. If planning to attend, please call (585) 345-1000 and let Maud know how many people are coming, for which seating, and the gender, ages and first names of children.

Children will receive a present from Santa.

T.F. Brown's is located at 214 E. Main St., Batavia.

Pictured are: Tony Scalia, Joe Teresi and Michael Tomaszewski from the Lions Club and T.F. Brown's owner Rick Mancuso.

A two-car accident with injuries is reported at 229 W. Main Street, in front of Ken Barrett's car dealership. It is blocking traffic. City fire is on scene along with police. Mercy medics are also responding.

Duane Lewis Garlow, 29, of 110 Woodcroft Drive, Rochester, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unreasonable speed in a curve and unsafe lane change. Garlow was charged following a motor-vehicle accident at 12:33 a.m., on Perry Road, Le Roy. Garlow's vehicle reportedly struck a stop sign and utility pole after failing to negotiate a curve in the roadway. The accident was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

Emma Jean Brinkman, 58, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Brinkman is accused of shoplifting from Walmart and stealing $43.23 in merchandise.

Eva Gristina Hernandez, 23, of Spencer Court, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hernandez is accused of shoplifting from Kmart and stealing $41.58 merchandise.

Long lines formed at the Batavia Post Office today.

According to Darlene Sharping, who has been at the customer service desk for 14 years, the Batavia Post Office has been one busy place for the last three weeks.

Today the wait in line was about 20 minutes. Some people walked in and walked out, while others braved the line and waited. 

Marybeth Bowen needed to mail a large envelope for $1.90, but did not have enough stamps. She had six but needed eight. In the Christmas spirit, another woman who was waiting in line to mail a lot of packages, volunteered to mail her envelope so she would not have to wait in line for stamps.

Sal Oddo, who has worked behind the customer service desk for 35 years here in Batavia says tomorrow is the last day to mail out packages to places like Florida or California. Anything after tomorrow might not make it in time for Christmas.

If you are mailing in the Northeast the last day is Thursday.

The Batavia Post Office will be open from 9-5 during the week.

Boxes were the theme in line today.

Even though the lines were long most people seemed to be in the Christmas spirit.

Stephanie Ann Bonin, 19, of Ross Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th. Bonin was arrested following an incident reported at 1:24 p.m., Dec. 6, at 4330 Commerce Drive, Batavia. She was allegedly found in possession of an expandable metal baton in her purse.

Joshua John Lein, 34, of Kibbe Avenue, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Lein was stopped at 1:12 a.m., Saturday, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Joseph Corona.

Raymond W. Schramm, 27, of East Pembroke, and Marla A. Mugler, 24, of Batavia, are each charged with harassment, 2nd. Schramm and Mugler were arrested by State Police in connection with an alleged incident reported at 3:45 p.m., Dec. 9. No further details released.